Cliff Pace's consistency has kept him at the highest level of competitive bass fishing for five years. In that time he's racked up two BASS wins and nearly a half-million dollars. Next year he'll fish his third Classic. A win there is definitely on his to-do list, but he will first face Toyota Trucks Championship Week against 11 of the best fishermen in the sport. Here's how he answered our 20 questions:
1. Where are you from, originally?
Petal, Miss.
2. How did you get started in bass fishing?
It was in style when I was growing up, so I did it, too. It was a hobby of my dad's, and I went with him.
3. Who were some of your earliest fishing heroes?
The guys who fished BASS back in the early days: Gary Klein, Larry Nixon, Rick Clunn. I looked at them and saw what they were doing for a living and thought, that's the career path I want to take. The pros always held more appeal to me than the other guys on TV because of the competitive aspect of the sport.
4. When did you realize you had made it in the bass fishing industry?
I'm not sure I have. I've never looked up and felt completely secure in that. Like any competitive sport, you need to get better all the time. That said, there are a few things I'm proud of, like making the Classic three times. I still have a lot to do in my career.
5. What's the biggest bass you've ever caught?
I have no idea. The majority of my big fish came from private farm ponds I caught when I was a kid. I never weighed them, simply caught them, admired them then let them go.
6. What do you love most about bass fishing?
The fact that it's outside.
7. What is your greatest strength as a bass angler?
Versatility.
8. What is your greatest weakness as a bass angler?
Can I say hard headedness?
9. Where is your favorite place to fish for bass and why?
The Louisiana Delta because I have a lot of memories there. When you spend a lot of time on a body of water, you feel like those fish are your pets, so I always enjoy my time there.
10. What question do you get asked most by fans and how do you answer it?
What I caught my last fish on.
11. What's the biggest mistake you see from casual anglers?
That's a hard one. I'd have to say they don't take advantage of all the opportunities their home body of water presents. A lot of guys will get stuck fishing one way, and when things change they don't change with them.
12. Do you have any fishing superstitions?
No. None whatsoever.
13. How big a part does luck play in fishing?
It definitely doesn't hurt to have it! The days when you get an unexpected 5- or 6-pounder, those are a bonus. You need to be prepared to take advantage of it.
14. What has been your greatest accomplishment in the fishing industry?
I've become a more consistent angler. My goal has been to go to any body of water and be able to catch them. For years some guys were good at one or two things and that was it, but it was fine because they always fished places those things worked. Now, the schedule is so diverse you need to be able to catch them lots of ways to be competitive.
15. What goals have you yet to accomplish in your bass fishing career?
I have a tremendous amount to do. I want to win a Classic, an Angler of the Year title and win some more events. I feel like my career is just getting started because I haven't met any of many goals.
16. What keeps you motivated to reach those goals?
The drive of competition; knowing that 99 other guys want to beat you keeps me focused.
17. What has been the greatest regret of your fishing career?
I don't have any to be honest.
18. When you're not bass fishing, how do you like to spend your time?
I do a lot of lure crafting and tinkering. I really don't go too many days without bass fishing.
19. What profession (other than your own) would you like to have tried?
I can't think of one. What I'm doing is what I've always wanted to do since I was 5 years old and saw Bob Cobb as a commentator on TV. I worked in construction for a while and just left recently.
20. When it's all over, how do you want people to remember you?
I want to be seen in the same light as the guys who are still around that have been here for a long time and are still consistent and as one of the greatest pro bass fishermen.